Merger of Disney and Reliance Could Create Entertainment Powerhouse in India
Introduction
In a potential merger of Disney’s India business and Reliance’s media unit Viacom18, an entertainment powerhouse may emerge, subsequently facing intense antitrust review. The outcome of this merger has the potential to shape the entertainment landscape in the world’s most populous nation.
Television Assets
Viacom18 boasts 38 television channels, including Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and MTV, while Disney Star holds about 80 channels, known for Hindi family dramas and Hollywood movie hits. Both companies offer a wide range of channels covering general entertainment, sports, children’s TV, documentaries, and lifestyle programs across various regional languages.
Streaming Services
Reliance’s JioCinema and Disney’s Hotstar are poised to provide a combined library of 200,000+ hours of content consisting of television dramas, movies, and sports events. Hotstar has been a top contender among video streaming apps, offering global blockbusters, Marvel movies, and National Geographic documentaries. In addition, it has the digital rights for International Cricket Council’s matches in India until 2027. JioCinema has been focusing on acquiring strategic deals to bring more content to its platform.
Overall, the potential merger between Disney and Reliance’s Viacom18 has the potential to create a major player in the Indian entertainment industry, combining their extensive range of assets to offer a wide variety of content to consumers. The outcome of this merger and the subsequent antitrust review will certainly be of great interest to industry observers and consumers alike.
